Rotary, Church in drive to revive Kanyanya school glory

When you visit Kanyanya Church of Uganda Primary School on a school day, you are likely to find teachers attending to their pupils in dilapidated classrooms with limited scholastic materials.

Behind these pupils’ and teachers’ smiles is a host of challenges; however, their zeal to attain education does not allow them time to digest these encounters frustrating their efforts to attain quality education.

The other aspect that one would not miss to observe is the densely populated classes.

Founded in 1986 by the Church of Uganda, the not-for-profit school has seen thousands of pupils study and graduate in different professions, including lawyers, doctors and teachers.

It is narrated that the school started losing its glory around 1994 after the school management was changed over allegations of mismanagement.

Members of the Rotary club of Kanyanya led by their charter president Ronald Mukasa (extreme L) handing over some of the scholastic materials to pupils’ representatives of Kanyanya Church of Uganda primary school and their head teacher Josephine Nalwoga (in black coat). (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)

Since then, different managers have been coming in and leaving, with some going away with school pupils to start their own schools.

Josephine Nalwoga, the school headteacher, says the main challenge the school is facing is the infrastructure where children study in dilapidated classrooms.

However, Christians of St Johns Kanyanya Church of Uganda is constructing a six-classroom structure, which she hopes will improve the performance of both the pupils and teachers when completed.

School fees challenges

Nalwoga says there are still many children in the community who would love to join school, however, are faced with the challenge of raising school fees as their parents are low-income earners.

“Many of the pupils we have in the school pay half the fees as the other half is catered for by one of our development partners,” she says.

The headteacher said the current bursaries have led to an increase in the school enrolment to 110 pupils this year from 45 in 2023 and 35 in 2022.

The school has 12 teachers and two non-teaching staff, which the school head says is enough at the moment based on their enrolment.

Nalwoga adds that they need more furniture and scholastic material to accommodate the increasing number of pupils to avoid congestion on seats.

“We need more scholastic materials like books and pens as there are parents who often bring their children to school without them,” Nalwoga says

She adds that they also need partners to support the school in feeding children, adding that it’s one of the areas where the school is struggling.

“We give the children porridge and posho for lunch from the little we collect, however at the end of the day the school gets strained,” she adds.

The previous managers would fail to listen and work with parents for the development of the school.

“We involve our parents in the school running as we sit and listen to their grievances and advise on how we can together better our school,” she said.

Ray of hope

To help the school revive its glory, The Rotary Club of Kanyanya has partnered with the school administration and the Church of Uganda to solve its cries.

On Wednesday, the Rotary Club donated scholastic materials, including garbage bins, books, pencils and pens among others.

Daniel Mayombwe Kigozi, the club services director, said the club is to do a spirited campaign to boost school enrolment through community sensitisation, among other strategies.

Members of the Rotary club of Kanyanya led by a brass band matching to Kanyanya Church of Uganda primary school for an event where they donated scholastic materials. (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)

“We want to adopt the school to revive its glory and start matching on its pace to renew its celebrated name of excellence in the country,” he said.

Kigozi said they are looking for friends to always give donations to complement parents' efforts towards the running of the school activities.

He added that they will raise funds and take to school information technology equipment such as computers and projectors, for the pupils to advance their technological skills to move at the same pace as those from across the world.

Ronald Mukasa, the club charter president, said the club is to be chartered in March this year to support development in their areas.

Chartering is a process which involves registering a club into the Rotary community.

Mukasa said as they start serving their community, they have decided to start with children since they are the inheritors of the world tomorrow.

“When people of good will get together, it is easy to spread the message of integrity and peace for the development of the country,” he said.

He said they are to continue engaging with the children to build their moral fibre and inculcate in them the spirit of helping one another.

Geoffrey Kulubya, a member of Kanyanya Church of Uganda and a member of the Rotary Club, thanked the Rotary Club of Kanyanya for joining in the struggle to ensure that pupils of the school receive quality education, adding that this must be a responsibility for all.